BLM reports on wild horse gatherings

From reports

Posted:
12/11/2012 07:16:08 PM MST

Officials with the Bureau of Land Management Monday announced updates to the tentative fall-winter schedule for gathering wild horses and burros from overpopulated herds on drought-stricken Western public rangelands.

Changes from the previous gather schedule reflect a re-prioritizing based on drought and, in some cases, animal conditions that have been affected by diminishing forage and water across the West. The round-ups and removals are needed to bring herd sizes into balance with other rangeland resources and uses, as required by Federal law, officials point out.

The major wild horse population affected in New Mexico is the Jicarilla Wild Horse Territory removal, which was reduced from 91 horses to 43, because of limited holding space.

The BLM is nearing full capacity at its short-term holding corrals and long-term holding pastures, constraining the agency's ability to remove as many of the animals necessary to reach appropriate management levels in herd management areas. Because of the holding limits, BLM officials continue to encourage the public to consider adopting a wild horse or burro.

Besides the Jicarilla herd, updates include:

cancellation of the bait-trapping gather of the Jarita Mesa Wild Horse Territory in New Mexico under U.S. Forest Service management because the animals are not in immediate declining condition.

an increase in the number of horses to be removed during the bait-trapping gather of Murderers Creek Herd Management Area/Wild Horse Territory in Oregon under both BLM and Forest Service management from 105 to 160 animals.

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The increase is a result of legal issues relating to an endangered fish species.

cancellation of the gather of Maverick-Medicine Herd Management Areas in Nevada because the animals are not in immediate declining condition.

the cancellation of the gather of Cedar Mountain Herd Management Area in Utah, because the animals are not in immediate declining condition.

an increase in the number of horses removed during the gather of the Wassuk Herd Management Area in Nevada from 250 to 450, because of very poor animal condition resulting from lack of forage.

an increase in the number of horses removed during the gather of the Challis Herd Management Area from 137 to 174, because of a court order.

adding a bait-trapping gather of the Chloride Herd Management Area in Utah to remove 50 head, because animals had moved outside the herd management area and onto private land.

an increase in the horse removal number of the Little Owyhee Herd Management Area from 544 to 800, because of severely limited water sources.

cancellation of the gather of Snowstorm Mountains Herd Management Area in Nevada, because the animals are not in immediate declining condition.

a goal of removing 50 animals, instead of 11 during the gather of Owyhee Herd Management Area in Nevada, because of severely limited water sources.

a reduction in the gather at Rock Creek Herd Management Area in Wyoming from 580 to 400 horses to focus on areas of diminishing available forage and water sources. The fertility-control treatment of mares increased from 115 to 150 horses.

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any federal agency, primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska.